Relief device for power units of pneumatic ironing machines



March 27, 1934,

N. l.. ETTEN 1,952,916

RELIEF DEVICE FOR POWER UNITS OF PNEUMATIC IRONING MACHINES Filed March 24. 4193,2

.'52 v 5g y D O J3 af a JZ J9 /7 ff 35 /f /5 "if ff k 5 "if "ZZ Patented Mar. l 27, 1934 UNTE IRELEF DEVICE FOR POWER UNITS 0F PNEUMATIC IRGNKNG MACHINES Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Eowa Application March 24, 1932, Serial No. 608,976 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-53) The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, inexpensive and compact power device for pneumatic ironing machines, s constructed and arranged that the capacity of the high pressure tank or airchamber may be varied a considerable amount without materially increasing or decreasing the working pressure of the air within the tank.

A further object is to provide in a power unit for `pneumatic ironing machines improved means whereby the oil or other foreign substances from. the various working mechanisms, carried by the exhaust, may be collected in a suitable container to prevent soiling of the garments being ironed.

i l5 My invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fullyset forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved power unit.

Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral 1 0 to indicate a casing which is rectangularin cross section, having detachable end members 12 and 13. A transverse' partition 14 is supported within the casing to divide the casing into what I shall term high and lowA pressure chambers, the numeral 15 indicating the high pressure chamber and 16 the low pressure chamber. Within the high pressure chamber is a cylinder 17, said'cylinder being mounted in the lower side of the casing so that an air space is provided above the top of the cylinder.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder 17 is a piston 18 having the usual packing rings 19. A `rod 20 is mounted in the piston and projects longitudinally through the casing toward the end member 12, said rod being of such length that when the piston is at its outer limit of movement, the outer end of said rod will engage the head l2, thereby providing means for limiting the outward movement of the piston.

Supported within the chamber 16 and around the rod 20 is a pair of helical springs 21, one end of which rests against the piston 18 and the other against the head 12. The springs are designed to yield at a pressure near the'normal working pressure within the chamber 15, so that as air is forced into the chamber l5, the piston 18 will be moved outwardly to accommodate the increased volume, and to provide means for maintaining the pressure comparatively uniform, G5 even through a considerable variation in volume.

Thus means is provided whereby a considerable amount of air may be rapidly taken from the high pressure chamber without materially rea ducing the pressure, as would otherwise be the case if some means were not provided for decreasing the volume of the chamber as the air is removed.

The partition 14 is provided with an opening 22 which connects the high pressure chamber 70 with the low pressure chamber. Supported within the opening 22 is a pipe 23, one end of which is mounted in a sleeve 24 in the head 12. The pipe 23 is provided with openings 25 and a valve seat 26. A ball 27 is mounted in the pipe 23 and 75 designed to rest against the seat 26. Said ball is yieldably held in its seated position by a spring 28. A plug 29 is threaded in the outer end of the pipe 23,and against the outer end of the spring 28, providing means for adjusting' the tension 80 of the spring, said plug having av slot 30 for receiving a screw driver or wrench for operating it. 'I'he sleeve 24 is provided with a cap 31.

By this construction it will be seen that any excess air pressure above a predetermined amount will cause the valve 27 to be moved outwardly from its seat, permitting air to escape through the openings 25 into the low pressure chamber -16.

Supported on top of the casing 10 is a pump 32 having a discharge pipe 33 leading into the upper 90 end of the chamber l5. The pump is provided with an inlet pipe 34 connected into the lower end of the chamber 16 by means of a nipple 35. An exhaust pipe 36 is designed to deliver air into the chamber 16 through the nipple 35. The ex- 95 haust pipe 36 leads to the pneumatic mechanism operated by air from the chamber 15. A pipe 37 is provided for supplying air from the chamber 15 to the pneumatically operated mechanism, such as used in connection with ironing machines.

A motor 38 is mounted on top of the casing 10 for operating the pump 32 through a suitable coupling device 39.

'Ihus it will be seen that if the motor 38 is operated, then the pump 32 will be operated, 105 causing air to be drawn from the interior of the chamber 16 and delivered into the chamber 15 under pressure. After the pressure is increased in the chamber 15 to -a predetermined point, then the piston 18 will be moved outwardly against 110 relieved by the valve 27 and the exhausted air delivered into the chamber 16.

H air is Withdrawn from the chamber l5 through the pipe 37 where it is utilized to operate pneumatic mechanism having lubricated parts, then the air exhausted from the cylinders of mechanism will be delivered to the pipe 36 and into the chamber 16. Thus means is provided whereby any oil or vapor of oil will be deiii/ered to the chamber' 16, Where it will condense4 and collect in the bottom of said chamber. The oil is removed through a suitable opening 40.

Thus means is provided whereby the pneumatic rnechanisrnwill be operated Without splattering articles being laundered with dirty oil or lits va-` pors or any foreign substances carried by the ex haust air.

By extending the outer end of the pipe 23 through the head 12, I have provided means whereby the tension of the valve 27 will be easily and quickly adjusted to Vary the normal Working pressure Within the chamber 15.

Suitable plugs il are provided in the upper side or the chamber l", in place of which may be mounted gauges or other mechanismif so deaired.

Thus it Will be seen that 1 have provided a power unit of very compact form, 'in which all of the operating mechanisms are rigidly secured to a rigid frame or casing, and in which comparatively high pressure may be easily maintained in the pressure chamber. The yieldable piston provides means whereby comparatively large volrimes of air may be rapidly Withdrawn 'without appreciably reducing the pressure Within the high pressure chamber, thereby providing a compara- Lefsaera tively uniform pressure for themechanism operated by air from said chamber, thus permitting the use of a comparatively small storage cham- -ber as compared with what would be necessary if no variable capacity means were provided for the high pressure chamber.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a high pressure chamn iber at one end and a low pressure chamber at `its opposite end, the casing at the outer end of said low pressure chamber being provided with an opening, a fixed pipe extending from the inner said casing and for covering the outer end or said pipe.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a. casing having a high pressure chamber in one end, and a low pressure chamber at its opposite end, the casing at the outer end of said 10W pressure chamber being provided with an opening, an outwardly extending sleeve in said opening, a pipe xed to and extending from the inner endof the high pressure chamber and terminating in said sleeve, a valve seat in said pipe, a valve for said seat, a spring for said valve, an adjustable plug in the outer end of said pipe for retaining said spring in one position and for adjusting the tension of the same, and a cap for closing the outer end of said sleeve and covering the outer end of said pipe.

pronoms L. ETTEN. 

